My only RftG opponent just moved across the country, and I am despairing. It seems that there should have been an online implementation available by now--look how fast Dominion got onto BSW.

Is there any word on allowing for online play?

The best information that we've gotten from Tom so far is that it's definitely in the works.

Perhaps he'll offer an update in this thread, but I doubt he has much information to offer.


There is a VASSAL module that allows for online play. The program does NOT keep track of anything for you. It all needs to be done manually. But you should be able to play a game using it if you can find another player willing to use the system.

Yeah, I remember hearing it was in the works back when the first screenshots from a BGGer's gorgeous-looking homemake computer version appeared, right after the game was released. I was just hoping that more progress has been made since then. (It didn't bother me until I lost my opponent, now it seems critical...)

Man, that home-made version looked beautiful. And it had an AI, too! Sigh...

That's the part that gets me, is that someone had software already written, why didn't RGG negotiate with them to commercialize it rather than going with some other company that apparently is dragging their heels.

That's rough Sorry to hear that Race has lost some clout in one of my groups. One person will only play it as a 2p or 4p game. Dunno how things will shape up with him when exp #2 introduces a 6th player but we'll see. Alot of that got replaced by Dominion Luckily, within that group, there are others still willing to play with any # of players. Also, my other groups remain unchanged in their views (not that they played it THAT much to begin with)

[shrug]. Geekmail me if you wanna take a stab at that Vassal module. I've gone through the YouTube tutorial (it's in French, but having visuals and video did help), but it's still kinda "iffy" for me, so just to be forewarned, I wouldn't get my hopes up too high.




Some talks here
Computer/Online version
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/285964

The designer and the community have a rather heated conversation about a(nother) user made application, but this version using original art from the BGG community
Launch of PC version's blog, new information
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/371739



There's quite a few more of these, but you get the idea.

The short answer if ya ask me is "NO". I'm well aware that RGG and Tom have said there are talks to make an official online version, but I'll believe it when I see it. Software of any kind all too easily turns into vaporware.

There are a few versions.

Wei-Hwa (onigame) had actually already developed a version complete with AI before Race was ever released. Perhaps they are attempting to modify that sufficiently for public sale.

After R4tG was released, Keldon Jones (maker of the fantastic Blue Moon application) developed the version that I believe everyone is calling beautiful. It was beautiful. He did run a geeklist game pitting the BGG community against his AI and a few problems showed up. But it was very playable and I'm sure he has them fixed by now.

Then another fellow started "R4TG.com" against the wishes of the publisher and the designer. That has been saying "Coming soon..." for months now.

All that to say that my guess is there was probably already a program at least partially developed that they intended to use before Race was ever sold. I'm assuming that they don't want to release it until the program is complete (read all 3 expansions included (read all 3 expansions released)). So, it may be a while yet.

But there's good news. Have you noticed that a CD jewel case would fit very nicely inside of a RGG expansion box? It would be awesome if it was included with the Brink of War.

Link to the geeklist?

Race for the Galaxy: BGG vs AI
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/36815

Man, I'm a 1000% percent in the same boat. I was totally with Tom Lehmann about not producing unsanctioned programs, but this is getting ridiculous. It's a great game, but it really takes a certain kind of gamer to play it, so it's just perfect for online players, the kind that really want to get in on it.

At this point I wouldn't begrudge anyone who offered to share a well-tuned working program (yes, I know about Vassal, I've played it, it's fine) until an official copy came out. My brother and I played the game a million times, but I just moved to the other side of the planet (literally) and, as has been said, we're despairing.

Please let someone fix this mess.

I found a site where you can play RftG and the first expansion. It's seems to be quite amateurish but it's looks playable.

Check out, genie.game-host.org

Ugh, not instant registration. Waiting for my password

The site seems good. Good gameplay and a growing group of skilled players.

Did I ever get my registration? I'd hate for it to have been accidentally deleted by my hand, thinking it was spam. Worse yet is I would have to come up with a new username since my original one was alr in the database.

I agree, the site's very good, happy to have found it.

It was instant reg for me.

I wonder how long 'til Tom Lehmann registers.

Also it seems there is no support for 2p 2 action choices. To my chagrin.

I agree, I love that server as well .

No 2 player advanced and no goals.

And the interface is a little dumb (Oh no, I didn't mean to discard that!).

I noticed a bug in Clandestine Uplift Lab, emailed the creator, and it was fixed before I took my next turn!

The above is definitely a deal-breaker for me.
No 5p is a bizarre limitation.

Couple questions:
-Does this play in realtime? Most games in progress always seem to be a few days old...
-What would some of you guess your game completion % is?

Put it on XBLA and use the same engine they're using for M:TG Duels of the Planeswalkers (which looks gorgeous, btw). I would be so in for that.

It plays as fast as all PBEM-equivalent games, however fast your fellow players play. None of my games have stalled out yet, but who knows.

Ugh. As if there weren't enough topics about how expensive the game plus both expansions are. In such a scenario, now we have to buy a $300 Xbox 360 first